Besides these negotiations, conducted by Secretary Favelles on the part of Marechal de Cosse, the King, who was excessively alarmed, also despatched the Marechal Gaspar de Schomberg on the same service.  That envoy accordingly addressed to the Prince a formal remonstrance in the name of his sovereign.  Charles ix., it was represented, found it very strange that the Prince should thus enter the French territory.  The King was not aware that he had ever given him the least cause for hostile proceedings, could not therefore take it in good part that the Prince should thus enter France with a “large and puissant army;” because no potentate, however humble, could tolerate such a proceeding, much less a great and powerful monarch.  Orange was therefore summoned to declare his intentions, but was at the same, time informed, that if he merely desired “to pass amiably through the country,” and would give assurance, and request permission to that, effect, under his hand and seal, his Majesty would take all necessary measures to secure that amiable passage.

The Prince replied by a reference to the statements which he had already made to Marechal de Cosse.  He averred that he had not entered France with evil intent, but rather with a desire to render very humble service to his Majesty, so far as he could do so with a clear conscience.

Touching the King’s inability to remember having given any occasion to hostile proceedings on the part of the Prince, he replied that he would pass that matter by.  Although he could adduce many, various, and strong reasons for violent measures, he was not so devoid of understanding as not to recognize the futility of attempting anything, by his own personal means, against so great and powerful a King, in comparison with whom he was “but a petty companion.”

“Since the true religion,” continued Orange, “is a public and general affair, which ought to be preferred to all private matters; since the Prince, as a true Christian, is held by his honor and conscience to procure, with all his strength, its advancement and establishment in every place whatever; since, on the other hand, according to the edict published in September last by his Majesty, attempts have been made to force in their consciences all those who are of the Christian religion; and since it has been determined to exterminate the pure word of God, and the entire exercise thereof, and to permit no other religion than the Roman Catholic, a thing very, prejudicial to the neighbouring nations where there is a free exercise of the Christian religion, therefore the Prince would put no faith in the assertions of his Majesty, that it was not his Majesty’s intentions to force the consciences of any one.”